Disappearing furniture



" ITE Miltitff HARRY L. MONROE, OF ST. LOUIS, E'ISSOURI.

DISAPEPEARING FURNITURE.

Application tiled September 22, 1922. Serial No. 589,795.

To' all whom z't may concern.'

Be it kno-wn that I, HARRY L. MONROE, a citizen of the United States of America, a resident of the city of St.Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disappearing Furniture, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part o-f this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in disappearing furniture adapted for use in efficiency apartments, hotels and other buildings wherein .it is desirable to economize space. An object of the invention is to conceal articles of furniture without using ordinary closets which, in addition to being expensive, occupy valuable space and sometimes produce the interior of a building. Furthermore, ordinary closets require large doors to conceal their contents, and I prefer to eliminate such doors. l Y

Another object is to most effectively conceal an article of furniture in such a manner that it can be easily and quickly exposed for use at a convenient location without occupying space in the room where it is exposed. A further objectV is to use the article of furniture asa means for closing communication between two roo-ms.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel con. struction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically 'described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come within vthe scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Briefly stated, the specific construction I have shown to illustrate vthe invention comprises an article of furniture movable in a straight line from a concealedposition in a hollow wall to an exposed position in a passageway between two rooms. Wvhen 'I the furniture 1s exposed for use in the pas-- sageway, it does not occupy space in either room. It lies between the rooms, closes the passageway and forms a continuation of the wall. The use of the furniture does not require displacement of any objects in either room. t

unsightly offsets inV ln the preferred form of the invention, the passageway between the rooms is provided with vertical jambs at its sides forming the side walls of the passagew 4y and having the general appearance of ordinary jambs. However, each jamb` preferably comprises two stationary side sections secured to the wall and separated from each other to provide an entrance to the storage compartment formed by the hollow wall. Each article of furniture is preferably provided with a middle jamb section adapted to close the space between the side sections of the jamb when the furniture occupies its concealed position in the wall. The entrance, or opening, between the side sections of the jarnb is in horizontal alinement with the passageway and storage compartment, and the furniture is preferably supported by a carriage guided in a straight horizontal line so as to move from the storage compartment to the passageway between the rooms.

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a hollow wall forming storage compartments for articles of furniture, portions of the wall being broken away to more clearly show the furniture.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 2-2, in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 3 3 in Fig. l.

The hollow wall comprises wall members A separated from each other to form narrow storage compartments l and 2. Between these compartments the wall is provided with a transverse opening B forming a passageway through the wall, so as to provide communication between the rooms at opposite sides of the wall.

Jambs J, at opposite sides of the passageway B, extend from the floor Fto a lintel L. Each jamb J comprises upright side sections 3 separated from each other to form an entrance to a storage compartment, this entrance being between and in horizontal alinement with the storage compartment and passageway B. Each jamb also inv cludes a movable middle section 4 lapping the side sections 3, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and forming a closure for the entrance to the storage compartment.

K designates an article of furniture which may be consideredyvas a kitchen cabinet, arim ranged in the compartment 1, while D indicates'an articleof furniture, for example, a dresser, arranged in the compartment Q. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the use of any particular article of furniture. ln the construction herein shown, the articles of furniture are provided with hangers 5 prO-. vided with rollers 6 engaging the upper edges of horizontal,tracks` 7, extending above the passageway Band into the Istorage compartments l and. 2. The furniture is thus supportedby carriers guidedin a straight horizontal line, at a right angie to Vthe jambs, and either article of furniture can be readily moved `from a concealed position in the hollow .wall to an exposedl position in the passageway B. Y. Y Y v Each middle jamb sectio-n a may becarried by one of the articles Aof furniture, and one of thesejamb sectionsalias a; vertical rib 8(Figs, 1 and)l adapted tov enter a correspondingrecess 8 inthe-other jamh sect-ione. when an article of furniture is eX- posed in the passageway. Therefore, when either article of furniture occ'upiesits exposed positionit closes communication be` tween the two rooms at opposite sides of the hollow wall.`

The articles of furniture occupy upright positions in-tlie` hollow, wall,V and Yeach article is iovable through the elongatedl verti cal space in one of thejambs so as to occupy an exposed position entirely within the ,passageway B between the` rooms.` Thev front of the article of furniture is exposed for use in one of the-rooms,;an d the furniture then closes communication between the two rooms but `does not occupy any spaceineither room,

so it is not necessarytomove any other ar,-V ticle of furnitureinthe room when the furniture herein shownA is exposed for use. Moreover, the furniture can be mosfteffectively concealed" without exposingv large doors, or the like,indicating the presence of a storage compartment. j Y

The articles of 'furniture may be oppo sitely disposed so that the kitchen cabinetv K can he moved to an exposed ,positionfacing one of the rooms whenthe latter is being, used as a kitchen, and theffront of the dresser D is Varranged for use in the other room.

I claim: i ,i Y

l. The combination of a wall, provided with a transverse openingv forming a-passageway. through thewall,` said, wall` comprising wall me'mbersfseparated from each other to form astora-ge compartmentat one i side of said passageway, and an article of furniture movable from said storage compartment to said passageway. y i. l

2. The combination of a wallprovided. wi'tha transverse opening formingra pasother to form anarrow storage compartment atene side of said passageway, and an article of furniture movable through said side of the passageway, said article of furniture being adapted for use in said passageway.

The combination of a hollow wall provided with a transverse opening, and an article Cif-furniture movable through'the jane of saidcpenifng.`

Li. The combination of a wall provided with a transverse openingfforming-a passageway through the wall, said wail comprising wall members separated from-.each other to form a storage compartmentat one side of said passageway, the jamb` atsaidside of the passageway havinga longitudinal opening providing-communication between said storage compartment andsaid passageway, and Van article of furniture movable through said opening in the jambv.v so as to pass-from said storage compartment toan exposed position in said passageway, and said articleoffurni# ture being adapted for use while it occupies said exposedposition. Y i w- The combination. of ,a ;wall provided with a transverse opening, forming a passageway through4 the wall, said, wall comprising wall members,separated,.from vea ch other to form a storagecompartment at one side of said passageway,.thejamb atLsaid side of the passageway a longitudinal opening providing communication between said storage .compartmentand said passageway, said storage compartment and passageway being in horizontal .alinement with the opening intsaid jam'b, andy a horizontally Amovable article of furniture adapt ed to pass through said opening'in the jamb,

. 6. rihe combination of a hollow wall provided with a transverse openingfforming a passageway through the wall, said hoilow wall comprising wall` members separated from each other to formga, storage compartmentrat one side of saidgpassageway, the

/jamb at said side ofthe passageway having a longitudinal openingproviding communication between said storage compartment and said passageway, said storage compartment and passageway'- being in horizontal alinement with .the opening'in the jamba horizontal track in said storage compara' mentanti-frictionrollers mounted on Asaid horlzontal; track. and anfarticle of furniture supported by;said rollers, said `article of furniture being` movable horizontallyl from the interior ofsaid storage compartment through the opening in,V thejambto'an exposed position in said passagewav, and said said passageway.

article offurniture being. adapted for use in 7, Thejcombinationjof a hollowwall provided withaV transverse, passageway -forming an opening through the yall, Sadrihol-v low wall comprising wall membersseparated v from each other to provide storage compartments at opposite sides of said passageway, said storage compartments being in horizon- `tal alinement with said passageway and each side wall of the passageway being open to provide ,communication vbetween the pas sa geway and both storage compartments, and articles of furniti'ire'located in the respective storage conipartments and movable through the open side walls of the passageway to exposed positions within said passageway.

8. The combination of a hollow wall provided with a transverse passageway forming an opening through the wall, said hollow wall comprising wall members separated from each other to provide storage compartments at opposite sides of said passageway, said storage compartments being in horizontal alinement with said passageway and each side wall of the passageway being open to provide communication between the passageway and both storage compartments, horizontal guides in said storage compartments, antifriction rollers mounted on said guides, and articles of furniture supported by said rollers, each article of furniture being movable through one of the open side walls of said passageway from an exposed position in said passageway to a concealed position within one of said storage compartments.

9. The combination of a hollow wall provided with a transverse opening forming a passageway through the wall, said hollow wall comprising wall members separated from each other to form a storage compartment at one side of said passageway, one of the side walls of said passageway being provided with an opening forming an entrance to said compartment, and an article of furniture movable from said storage compartment tosaid passageway, said article of furniture being provided with a closure for said last named opening.

10. The combination of a wall provided with a transverse opening forming a passageway through the wall, said wall comprising wall members separated from each other to form a storage compartment at one side of said passageway, the jamb at said side of the passageway having a longitudinal` opening providing communication between said storage compartment and said passageway, and an article of furniture movable through said opening in the jamb so as to pass from said storage compartment to said passageway, said article of furniture being provided with a closure for the opening of the jamb.

ll. The combination of a hollow wall provided with a transverse passageway forming an opening. through the wall, said hollow wall comprising wall members separated from eachother to provide storage compartments at opposite sides of said passageway, Said Storage compartments ments at opposite sides of said being parallel with and in horizontal alinement with said passageway, each side wall of the passageway comprising a pair of jamb members separated from each other to provide communication between the Jas affewa and both storage com Jartments horizontal tracks located Yin said storage compartment and arranged at a right angle to said jamb members, traveling carriers mounted on said tracks, articles of furniture supported by said ca 1riers and movable from the respective storage compartments to said passageway, each article of furniture being provided with a closure for the space between a pair of the separated jamb members.

12. The combination of a hollow wall having a transverse passageway providing communication between two rooms, said hollow wall comprising wall members separated from each other to provide storage compartments at opposite sides of said passageway, said storage compartments being parallel with and in horizontal alinement with said passageway, each side wall of said passageway having an elongated vertical opening providing communication between the passageway and both storage compartments, and upright articles of furniture mounted in the respective storage compartments and movable in straight lines through the vertical openings, each of said articles of furniture being wide enough to extend across and close said transverse passageway.

13. The combination of a hollow wall having a transverse passageway providing communication between two rooms, said hollow wall comprising wall members separated from each other to provide storage compartments at opposite sides of said passageway, said storage compartments being parallel with and in horizontal alinement with said passageway, each side wall of said passageway having an elongated vertical opening providing communication between the passageway and both storage compartments, and upright articles of furniture mounted in the respective storage compartments and movable through the vertical openings, each of said articles of furniture being movable to an exposed position entirely within said passageway and entirely outside ofl ysaid two rooms, and each article of furniture being adapted for use while it occupies said exposed position.

14,-. The combination of a hollow wall provided with a transverse passageway forming an opening through the wall, said hollow wallL comprising wall members sepa-rated from each other to provide storage compartpassageway, said storage compartments being parallel with and in horizontal alinement with said passageway, each side wall of the passageway comprising a pair of u right jamb members separated from each other to provide communication between the passageway and both storage oompartinents, and articles of furniture `mounted in the respective storageA eo1npartments, each article of furniture being moV able through the space between a pair of the separated jamb members so as to pass from a concealed position inone of said compartments to an exposed position in said passage- 10 Way. Y

In testimony that lI claim the foregoing I hereunto aiX my signature.

' vHARRY L. MONROE. 

